Monday, June 29, 2009

Toledo Walleye 2009-2010 Inaugural schedule

TOLEDO WALLEYE 2009-2010 INAUGURAL SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED!

OK, I would not usually bother to post a teams upcoming schedule, or care about a that fact that a team had announced their upcoming schedule, but I have to say I got a little excited when I saw the graphic that they used along with the press release on their web site. I realize that it is just something that somebody whipped up in Photoshop, but they have made it look like the teams inaugural pocket schedule, and for me its fun to see a pocket schedule for the upcoming hockey season already in June - even it if is only a photoshopped version of a pocket sked! And it doesn't hurt that I like their logo - too bad I didn't like the new Abbotsford Heat logo as much as this one.

Here is their press release:

6/20/2009 - TOLEDO, OH - The Toledo Walleye today released their 72-game schedule for the 2009-2010 inaugural season. The Walleye will open the season on Friday, October 16 vs. the Florida Everblades at the brand new Lucas County Arena.

The complete schedule and schedule breakdown is at the bottom of this release. Game times will be determined at a later date. Click to view the 2009 Walleye Schedule!

The Walleye will open the year with 15 of their first 21 games at home in October, November and early December with 33 of the team’s 36 total home games coming on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Toledo will play 13 games against the Kalamazoo Wings (their closest rival at 150 miles), 11 games against the Cincinnati Cyclones, and 8 games against the Johnstown Chiefs.

Toledo Walleye Head Coach, Nick Vitucci said, “We are looking forward to hitting the ice in October. The anticipation has been growing for two years in the community and we are thrilled to be part of the new chapter of professional hockey here in Toledo. We would also like to welcome the Kalamazoo Wings to the ECHL and look forward to continuing a rivalry dating back to the old IHL.”

Toledo Walleye General Manager, Joe Napoli said, “The Inaugural Walleye Season will be quickly upon us and we are absolutely thrilled to have such a strong schedule with so many weekend dates… the memories will last a lifetime.”

The Walleye will also play games against Charlotte (5), Elmira (5), Florida (8), Gwinnett (3), Reading (3), South Carolina (4), Trenton (6), and Wheeling (6).

Walleye season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are on sale now. Fans can order their tickets by phone at (419) 725-WALL.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Abbotsford Heat Logo Not Even Lukewarm!

The Abbotsford Heat (joining the AHL for the 2009/10 season), unveiled its new logo today... and what a disappointment it is!
I was already underwhelmed by the name, the Heat, but the logo is just about as lame as you can get. The logo in no way looks like a hockey team logo, there is no appearance of flames or heat, the colours are extremely dull and the font they created for the logo looks like something you would find on one of those lame free font web sites. This is not good enough for a high school team, let alone a professional hockey team.
Along with the new logo, is a sketch that was used in the initial creation process of the logo. You will have to figure out for yourself which is the finished product ;-)
I can guarantee you that I won't be wasting my cash to purchase anything with this logo on it!